Rhicullen

A project to characterise the quantity and quality of the Scottish resource of known surviving remains of the First World War. Carried out in partnership between Historic Scotland and RCAHMS.

The practice tranches at Rhicullen comprise three groups of earthworks. That to the SE (NH 69545 72062) appears to be a possible mortar emplacement with two communication trenches to the E.

The best preserved trench system lies c.150m to the W on the crest of a slight ridge and comprises a zig-zag trench with at least seven communications leading downhill to the E. The surviving earthworks of the trench extend for 170m SW-NE (NH 69297 72007 to NH 69412 72137). The SW end has been truncated by earth moving and c50m of trench system has been lost.

A poorly preserved third group lies 440 to the NW. This group of three lines of zig-zag trenches linked by communication trenches has been affected by the earth moving with the construction of a reservoir in the early 1970's and a later water pipeline. Lengths of the trenches can be seen, some as deep as 1m.

Visited by RCAHMS (AKK) 12 October 2012.

NH67SE 61 centred 6972 7205

Short stretches of practice trenches, which are of varying design and are situated to the NW of Rhicullen, have been recorded on oblique aerial photography (RCAHMSAP 2007). The trenches are probably of First World War date.

Information from RCAHMS (VLW), 27 April 2007.